Ex-Bengal Jailed After Threats To Rex Chapman

Louisville Courier

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Former Cincinnati Bengal Lewis Billups was in jail after federal agents charged him with threatening to end Rex Chapman's basketball career by fixing it so he "would never walk again."

Billups, 29, of Longwood, Fla., was arrested in Lexington and appeared yesterday in federal court.

He allegedly made the threats against Chapman, a former Kentucky Wildcat who plays for the Washington Bullets, in telephone calls from Orlando to Rex Chapman's sister. The FBI taped the calls. Authorities would not elaborate on the reason for the threats.

Billups also is one of 19 Bengals accused of rape and assault against a woman at a Tukwila hotel in 1990.